October 2007

Today Skype has released a updated version of Skype 3.6 beta for Windows.

First of all we would like to thank everyone who has given their feedback to us on the initial beta version of Skype 3.6, keep up the feedback, as it helps us to make Skype even better for you.

You can leave us feedback on Skype forums or file a issue, reports in our public issue tracker Jira.

You can download the new version from right here.

The updated beta release, 3.6.0.159, incorporates two new features in connection with recently announced co-operation with MySpace:

• Linking MySpace profile in Skype
• Display MySpace avatar in Skype

In addition to those two new features we have also made some bug fixes and improvements to Skype, they are:

• Improvement: Improved audio quality on low speed internet connections
• Improvement: Improved presence
• change: Computers with Dual Core CPU’s will send 640x480 by default on video call.
• bugfix: Audio settings not displayed correctly
• bugfix: Microphone level adjustments made during the call were not remembered for next calls
• bugfix: Full screen video windows was movable
• bugfix: Skype crashed when user enabled and disabled video many times in short timeframe

Today we have released a new version of Skype for Windows.

Skype 3.6 for Windows is currently in a open beta state which means that we are still working on it to make it ready for production level use and nail down possible rough edges.

This new release is all about video, it introduced new quality standard for video calls, you can now make video calls with resolution of 640x480 and up to 30 frames per second.

To make such high quality video calls you need to have following configuration:

• A computer with dual core processor
• A Logitech High Quality webcam, with latest webcam software from Logitech
• Sufficient bandwidth (we recommend upload bandwidth 380kb/s and above)

See more info in FAQ’s.

Download it right now.

We would like to encourage you all to give us a feedback how your video calls are going and how Skype 3.6 Beta for Windows generally is behaving, so we can make it better for all of you.

You can leave us feedback on Skype forums and report issues with Skype on our public issue tracker Jira.

Continue reading "Skype 3.6 for Windows Beta, High Quality Video" »

Today we have released a Skype Toolbar 1.1 for Outlook public beta. Beta means that we are still working on it and that it may have some rough edges in what we are trying to find out.

You can start downloading it right now from here and then continue reading about what’s new in there.

Biggest change is that we have added support for Microsoft Outlook 2007, other noticeable changes are:

• Much faster start-up performance (except the first time you log into a profile) - the caching is now done in a much better way
• When reading email only the sender of the email is analysed. Previously up to 10 other recipients were also analysed. This also increases performance a lot.
• Selecting appointments are no longer supported - we are trying to make the product simpler and this feature was cut
• On demand analysing of other recipients. When you create a conference, multichat etc from an email the other recipients (apart from the sender) is analysed when needed, not in advance.

We would like to encourage you to leave us all your comments and feelings what you have on using it. It will help us significantly on eliminating the rough edges what there still might be in: You can leave it to us on our public chat for Skype Toolbars or in Skype forums.

Today we have released a new production release of Skype for Linux 1.4 with a codename Panacea.

You maybe wondering why we have chosen a codename Panacea?

Because Panacea is a goddess of cures in Greek mythology, she was the daughter of Asclepius, god of medicine, and the granddaughter of Apollo, god of healing. You can read more about Panacea on Wikipedia.

Skype for Linux 1.4 delivers a superior voice call quality in comparison with previous production release of Skype for Linux 1.3.

It is highly recommended for everyone to upgrade to the latest version. Download it right now.

We thank everyone who has given their feedback to us on Skype for Linux 1.4 Alpha and Beta versions. It has helped us to find and squash many bugs and problems and in addition we have learned what you want us to do.

You are more than welcomed to continue asking features and leaving all comments to us on Skype for Linux as you are the ones who are using it and you know the best what you would like to see there. Read how to leave feedback.

New features of the Panacea are:

• feature: Command line switches, run “skype —help” for more details.
• feature: —resources= to set an alternative to /usr/share/skype for resources.
• feature: Add an option to Sound Devices to enable/disable automatic mixer adjustment.
• feature: Allow keyboard/keypad to be used to enter DTMF numbers in call window.
• feature: Clickable links in chat topics.
• feature: Tooltips for emoticons in the chat window.
• feature: Chat toolbar with Add People, Send File(s) to Chat, History and Leave Chat buttons.
• feature: Confirmation dialog for Leave Chat button.
• feature: Drag-and-drop files to chat input box to send files to chat.
• feature: Drag-and-drop files to individual contacts in chat or contact list to send files.
• feature: Drag-and-drop users from contact list into chat input box to send contacts.
• feature: Drag-and-drop users from contact list into chat memberlist to add to chat.
• feature: Dragging of contacts into other programs (text entry) will copy skype:.
• feature: File transfer menu.
• feature: API OPEN FILETRANSFER and OPEN USERINFO commands.
• feature: Auto-accept file transfers.
• feature: “Cleanup transfers” button.
• feature: Key ‘F6’ to bring main window focus instantly to Quickfilter.
• feature: Interface language choice in Options based on translation files available (restart required).
• feature: “New version available” dialog.

Continue reading "Skype for Linux 1.4 Gold, The Panacea" »